(Andrew J acit son 



A DRAMA 

IN F I \' E ACTS 



i;v 

E. FITZMAURICE 



Copyright, 1898, by Edward Fitzmaurice. 



PRINT BV A. SCHWAKZ 
CHIOAUO, 1901. 



(ilndrew ja^lisoii 



A DRAMA 

1 \ F 1 V K A ( TS 



E. FITZMAURICE 



Copyright, 1898, by Edward Fitzmsurice. 



I'RIM BV A. s« HWAKZ 
CIIKAOO. I'.MM. 



THE UiSRAHY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two CoHiw Recewed 

OCT. 28 1^01 

A COPVRIQHT ENTRY 

COPY a 



TNiP92-009318 



DRAMATIC PERSONAE. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 
OVERTON, Governor. 
DICKENSON. 
CUTLER, Doctor. 
THOMAS BENTON. 
JESSE BENTON. 
CARROLL. 
COFFEE. 
HAYS. 

LIVINGSTON, 

REED. 

TOM CLEAR. 

WEATHERFORD, Indian Chief. 

RACHA, 

SHUSY. 

LISTRIA. 
Soldiers, Hospital Nurses. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 

A DRAMA, 



ACT 1.— Scene 1. 

In Nashville Hotel. Jackson and Ove^'ton. 

Oveuton: Let me train you to silence till this fight is 
oviV — your inan is Dickinson — silent, quick, sure — The 
master of duel in these states. Wlio are you? — What are 
you? — JacUsou! Who is he? What is he? A Carolina 
ragot — Easy work for Dickinson. (Jackson strikes table.) 
silence — a cock*»ller to crow down in for Dickenson's 
morning shot. (Jackson tries to talk.) Silence, silence. 
We'll with your tongue lose the tight. Then wont he 
head a cavalcade home in silver anclers and wont you 
hang your long leatherns out of a dead mans wagon. 

Jackson: I'M find and fight him now. (Rushes off and 

Overton after him bringing him back.) 

Itut I'm too late, the time for fight is when 't is provoked. 

OvKi/rox: Enoug-h or 

Jackson: Damnations, I can lose — Whats more than 
that? 

OvKirrox: To lose and win is more — listen — silence is 
force, si enee is purpose, silence is a new Jackson — He'll 
!iit first but we must have our share of death out of it — 
When the signal goes don't fire — Wait till your shiver is 
over — Then steady, steady, stand up — Don't die for a 
moment — y.jur foot, your eye, your hand — oh sacreds in- 
spire him — one touch — you'i* down, and he, and he — yes 
impartial deity, our half is won — He's down — Be ready — 
Think — Settle— Sleep — Be ready. (Exit Jackson but 

not Overton ) 

Overton: The mountain bravery of Jackson against 
the refined courage of Dickinson — Fair fight — Was there 
ever a fair fight? Even match. Was there ever an even 
match? A policemans grip is an empire. A brawlers fis'^ 



is only a risi. (Puils out an old %r^,) — seeii dtfi'vice. — 
How much? — One, two, three, four. — Coffee got that — 
an ugly tear but he seat his man down by t&e shoulder — 
This was fatal to young Delail — His boiling blood is 
cool®d to a crust here — Donero's tank was bred there — 
This was my own — Where's to be Jackson's? and is one 
or both to die? — I'll toss to tind out. (Tosses). Head for 
two — (Lifts coin). Lost — We're to have only one dead, 
for a toss is fate — Who's to fall? Dickinson or Jackson ? 
Toss to find that — tossV No, 't would all be out then. — 
Terrible. — But, 1 will (Pauses in act) — Let me — Yes 
I will. (Tries but catches coin.) Here 's for it! (Half way 
tosses.) No, No, What ah What could 1 do if — Damn it^ 
I'll try. (Up go^-s coin.) That's no toss. (Puts foot on it. , 
Afraid, no not afraid of that tiling. ) Fliu^> down coin.) 
Now, now, — Head, head, head for Jackson (Real toss) 
Sacred life, I, I liave won. — Hip, hip, iiurrah for my 
Jackson. ('End of Scene.) 

ACT. 1.— SCKNE -.i. 

Ih the Hermitage. Jackson nritiny his will. 

Jackson: What for my RachaV — This house, to re- 
mind her how much is gone from it, Jacksoji, the aiasoury 
of it — gon« forever. The glories that we talked into 
fairy life, to stay here as hauii(,ing (writes) mere shell, 

f Enter Racha>- 

Racha: Too intent" U^ hear — Andrew! 

Jackson: Darling'! 
Racma.: tlSo j J) tent! 

JACKSOi>r: I was writing and j'c'ii a study co avoid 

mista.kes„ 

Racha: But a, midnight study is iiew — vVfiat s 'ulia'i 
paper ? 

Jackson: Something^ for, nothing for — a trilie. 

Racha ^ So profound for a trifle — my Jackson would 
'Compete with deity at making worlds, to put out — i, 

3pace — you creep thru darkno'^a for a trifle — 



<> 



Jackson: Terrible — False— But no— Trifles laigtit.... 

Rac'ha: Out with it — Besides my father I boated 
frozen rapids and picketted night, niorning-s thro the 
Red mans empire and made the footings that you found 
and followed tiere — out with it. 

Jackson. Does the air carry conspiracy against me 
and supply puff to no tongue but for spleen to Jackson — 
must I sue pardon from you too because I'm alive? 

Hacha: That paper — afraid — you'r not the Jack- 



sou 



Jackson: Never this and your not the Jackson - . . . . 

Racha: No — g-ive thai (Rushes at paper. j 

Jackson: iio — or (Enter .Simsy,} 

Shusy: Orach, is it come to batin the misses you'r at? 

Hacua : I have just woke from a dream of terror. 

HHuav: 80 have I maam - I shiep an hour an dramed 
a »ireek — Far and fiir 'she ghohl wint cryin an I wint 
afther lier — Thin she met a cart an a corps in it; and 
to J lied it back. 

Racha: riiat's my dream. 

Shusy: An musna but Shat was the ,5ore hearted 30b. 

Jackson: Silence Shusy! 

fSHTJsY: Be yer lame Mrs. Shusy Carrife'an tor , 
Jacksow; Hellsblaye.«;, no more. 

8HUSi; Hellsblayes. js enough the Lord betun® us 
an it. 

Racha: What's in your dream Shusy' 

Shusy. a deatii maanu 

Racha.; is it Jack sou a ■^ 

Shusy: No maam for the corps haaY/c a r«d h^md an -. 



'Jaok.'3<»; 'JhoKing you 



— 4 — 

Shusy: O iishtin to that; an the corps was'Dt as long 
in the shins as 

Jackson: The devil stew your bones. (Exit Jackson.) 

Shusy : The cross O'Jasus about us. (Signs cross and 
curtisies.) 

Racha: He is wriling- a challenge and I want to stop 
it. 

Shusy: You could'nt shtop thim Jackson's once they 
get in Into their red heads — That's how the red heads 
came among thim. Firsht — Be the mothers side they 
wor Nowlans and the Divil and all his boarders cou.ld'nt 
give the Nowlans tight enough — an n)e jewel they sthuck 
at it till afther one big head smashed they could'nt wash 
the blood out, their wads an from that day to this ther 
red headed an whin they married in with the Jacksons 
they giv thim the red heads. (Enter Overton.) 

Overton: Yonr obedient, ladies. 

Shusy: Wecome, Curncl, Ginral, Soger, Captuin, or 
what's it, maam V 

Racha: Governor. 

Ovekton: Can I see the General? 

Shusy: Sartan — Go for him an (Exit Racha) he's 
only gone. 

Overton: Was he here? 

Shusy: Sure in his own house. 

Ovekton: and talking 

Shusy: Shure to hes wife. 

Overton: What did he say ? 

Shusy: I dunna what to the Misses, but 1 had to make 
pace betime an (Puts bottle and glasses down) Honor us 
be takin a dhrop. 

Overton: You'll not drink. 



— o 

Shusy.: De ye want it all ? 

OvEKToN: I drink with men. 

Shusy: The Ginral dhrinks wid men or women. 

Overton: Where s the dignity then? 

8husy: Whereever G-ii^ral Jackson is — Thry where 
tis wid you — This is Jaoksons house big: as a county — 
This is Jacksons whisi-y, pure as purgatory. 

OvEiiroN: You seem to own him. 

Shusy: I never disowned him, — whin his mother, 
dacent Aoman brought him home without a spoonful o 
gruel to wet her lips 1 rouled him V) me apron an owned 
him. 

OvKRTOx: Here's to him tho he can keep nothing. 

Shusy: lie keeps a good dhrop that's rale tin year 
ould SHLAUNTHA an (Drinks herself) it tashests like twin- 
ty since ye cam in. (Enter Jackson and Racha.) Jackson 
and Overton drink silently and scene ends wliile the 
two drink.) 

ACT 1.— Scene 3. 

The Duel Ground. Dickinson, Cutler and Party. 

Cutler: He wont come. 

Dickenson: No, Jackson fenrs; quiet — He backed 
out before. 

Cutler: Whevv — Then, what pity for such guns to 
get no work. (Hiss. ) 

Dickenson: He counts again on a go-between cle- 
mer.cy but — (Enter Jackson and Party.) 

Ovehton: This way do<'tor (to Cutler). 

Cuteer: No parley. 

Overton: Are you shure? 

Cutler: Quite. 



— (j — 
OvEJiTON: Wont you talk terms. 

Cutler: 'T would waste time but let's hear. We say 
fight. 

Overton: What you say is edict, but distance is 

Cutler: O ours is twenty paces. 

Overton: Thirty is ours. 

Cutler: That's the distance of fear — you don't mean 
fight. 

Overton: As we do, we'll lake your insult, but 

Cutler: But, What? 

Overton: O one fight is enough for us now. 

Cutler: Too much. 

Overton: Sw«eten your tongue, or — (shows his whip) 

CuTLEii: Bah, that's the weapon of g-utters but we'll 
not let you brawl out this time as ail the Jackson mou- 
thers do — ye'II toe the line and fight as a gentl(>man 
for once. 

(Overton lifts wliip to strike.) 

Overton: But no — Let's do one fight. We'll shoot 
at a wack for distance. 

Cutleh: Fine — To our hand. 

(They shoot and Cutler wins.) 

Ct'ti.kr: First mark (The distance is measured oft', 
Dickenson and Jackson in dead silence take their places.) 

Judge: Are you ready ':* (Yes, Yes; the Judge lets fiag- 
fall and Dickenson fires but seeing Jackson not fall Dick- 
enson recedes back.) 

Overton: Stand or — (Points gun at Dickenson. — In 
this moment of inten^ities Jackson fires; Dickenson stag- 
gers, flings his gun away and grasping out for another 
falls. 

Jlixie: Any more? 



— 7 — 

Cutler: Not this time. 

(The Jackson party bow off and scene ends.) 



ACT. 2.— Scene 1. 

Ill Benton's house. Jesse Benton and Cutler. 

Cuti-er: You can spoil Cjinol with Jiistria. — You'r 
a Benton of two states; Carrol is an upstart unclean tripe 

Jesse: Yes, to level Jackson, Carrol must go down — 
But what then y 

Ci ti.er: Win and then — 

Jesse: Tlien what? — I don't want to win a wedding. 

CuTLEu: Long before a church darkens down on you, 
you'll V)e master and 

Jesse: No — No — Yes. 

Cutler: What's in no. no, yes? 

Jesse: First I'll you see crush Carrol. . . Then 

Why 

Cutekh: Yes, keep on. 

Jesse: Then Yes, thei. — Stay .. That wont do. . 
for 

Cutler: For what':' 

Jesse: Lots of whai. 

Cuteek: Afraid of Overton's? 

Je.^'Se: And Bentons too. 

Cutleh: Carrnl is youi master. 

Jesse: Pease I bei^in to fear you more than all — I'm 
ready Carrol is no danger, but — 

Cutler: If Overton comes we'll send him to darkness. 

Jesbe: But he'll as he often did, come back. 



— 8 ~ 

CuTLEii: We'll send him too deep this time for that — 
Firm, firm, go. (Scene ends.) 

ACT. 2.— Scene 2. 

In Overton's house. Listria alone making tea. 

(Enter Shusy singing ''The Green Bnshes"). 

O'er yonder acomin, 

Me thrue love I see, 
Down by the Green Bushes, 

Where he used to meet nie, 

Where he used to meet me, 

Where he used to meet me, 
Down to the Green Bushes, 

Where he used to meet me. 

f^HUSY: The Misses sintme over to larn \()u that song, 
(siiigs it again.) 

Listkia: Have a cup V 

Shusy: Thanky (Drinks and does the cup tosser.) 

Listria: What's this? (handles her own cup.) 

Shusy: Thunder! — One, two threp, five, tin — fiamin 
to me but a whole multiplication — see that fella comin 
an that fella goin an that fella thryin to conio an that fella 
thryin to go and that fella thryin to shtay — murther all 
purditions, there — they tliry ihothor sKle, arrah musha 
a bear hunt. . . .Lookl that fella runnin away an tlie bear 
has him be the behind and all the other fellas laughin at 
him — but here's a gintleman — LooV s like the runaway. 
(Exit Shusy singing as she goes into distance secoud verse 
of Green Bushes.) 

I'll buy you silk ribbons. 

And jewels to shine. 
If j'ou lave your own thrue love. 

To come and be mine. 

To come and be mine. 
If you lave your own thrue love, 

To come and be mine. 



— 9 — 

(Enter Jesse carrying- broken gun.) 

Jesse: Tired. 

Listria: You seem. Rest, and rest your ^un — "Where 
were you ? 

Jesbe: never mind. 

Listkia: Why here tired with broken gun tor a never 
mind; Where were you? 

Jesse: At field, (mock modest). Can I leave my gun? 

Listkia: Not here, without the tale of how broken. 

Jesse: Another time and an other teller for that^ 
(Looking at gun hatefully.) 

Listria: No time but now, no teller but you. 

Jesse: I'll come back and if none else, I'll tell then. 

Listria: Tell now and if there's no poetry in it this 
is not the place. 

Jesse: 'Tia vain to bungle ones part and vulgar to 
hawk it. (Tries to look unwilling to tell.) 

Listria: 'Tis vain to hawk it here for guess work, 
glory and nothing real is vulgar, the rags of a soldier are 
not vulgar — a louse on them is not vulgar — dirt on a 
soldier is not vulgar — that's the paint of his profession* 

Jesse: We were at bear hunt (pauses to be j>i'6ssed). 

Listria: Yes — go on — Who ran away? 

Jesse: Ran away! — You told falselyl — They said he 
did but he did'nt run away, or he did'nt run far. or no. 't 
was'nt a run away — When the bear at bay turned, Car- 
rol faltered and sided off — that's all. 

Listria: Cariol faltered — in fearV 

Jesse: I don't say fear. 

Listria: But you make it for me to say. 

Jesse: No — I admit 't was a weak momeni — but any 
man might — you know — might save himself by — by. 



— 10 — 

Listria: By cowardice. 

Jesse: I don't like to say that. 

Listria: But you like me to say it. 

Jesse: No, no don't frivol — you'r too sure — I was 
close up — just then my g-un gave way and the gap made 
by his — his, by his — What can you call it? 

Listria: By his, his, his — call it yourself this time — 
you'r too sure. 

Jesse: You interrupt — The gap brought the game on 
me — still I had the but and with all my (enter Carrol 
unseen) force I came on 

Carrol: With all your force > ou came on here. 

Jesse: How dare you pimp after me? 

Carrol: The bear hunted me as he hunted you. 

Jesse: Liar, he didn't hunt me. 

Carrol: Liar, he hunted you. 

Listria: Tell us Carrol. 

Carrol: The bear hunted the whole Held and Benton 
fled first and put all into confusion. 

Jesse: You'll answer for this. (Exit Jesse and Carrol 
by opposite door. Listria laughing after them and scene 
ends.) 

ACr. 2.— Scene 3. 

In Benton's Hovse, 

Jesse and Cutler in earnest undertone converse and the 
gestures of a deepening conspiracy with ju-st enough 
sound tho suppressed words to give proof of an uncrushed 
resolve 

A. short scene to end with a handshake of inspiring 
pressure by Cutler and limp indicicion by Jesse. Cutler 
still strengthening as Jesse's weakening. 



— 11 — 

ACT. 3.— Scene 1. 

The Hermitage. Jackson and Coffee. 

Jackson: Thomas Benton gave you this money and 
this message for me. 

Coffee: Yes. 

Jackson: This and this for Jackson. 

Coffek: For Jackson. 

Jackson: Foul coupling. 

Coffee: 'Tis the money, ten thousand dollars re- 
turned for your abortive march. 

Jackson: 'Tis tainted (reads) Your money is ten thou- 
sand — Your name is dastard — Thomas! 

Coffee: Thomas I 

Jackson: (Reads) You thought you shop by warrior 
how to shoot a Bento^ while I lobbied for you — Double 

false. 

Coffee: I told you not. 

Jackson: Damnation to "told you not". 

Coffke: No prudence. 

Jackson: Deep damnation to prudence — 1 stickled 
peace between them, but Jesse would bullet the cock 
horse Carrol down. — How he disdained conciliation with 
such untraceable spawn — Benton had all Cottondom at 
his back — Carrol had only Listria to stand second if I 
refused. 

Coffee: O blast it I 

Jackson: Carrol shot Jesse for Carrol 's the better 
man — Blast this money too — Take it l)ack to Benton. 
(Flings it down). 

Coffee: And what answer. 

Jackson: This (giving whip) or thi» (giving" gun — 
Exit Coffee and scen^e ends.) 



— 12 — 

ACT 3.— Scene 2. 

Nashville Motel. Voices coming in. 

First Voice: Steady there. 

Second Voice: Mind his hand. 

(Enter Hays, Coftee and men bearing Jackson on a 
stretcher covered up, a whip hanging out.) 

Hays: Oh Almighty! he's dead! gone in the childhood 
of his glory — I'll meet the Bentons for this. 

Coffee: Or 1 will — but how? Must I put what little 
I am, and what littlo I may be; as he put all he was, and 
all he might be, into a gutter fig'htV — Lay out my slow 
gains of glory as he laid out his inheritance to make a 
few bankrupt bones. 

Jackson: Stand, stand back Hays, give my whip 
room — I'll, I'll — that's it. (Springs up, stageringl.N and 
tries to use his whip). Keep off Hays, only for you — see 
ha see, they couldn't hit a state house! Quick, whew! 
quick, whew! (Hays and Coffee catch him and scene ends; 

ACT 8.— Scene 3. 
Outside Nashville. Thomas and Jesse Benton. 

Thomas: Foul beginning — I must leave the state. 

Jesse: We didn't begin it. 

Thomas: You did long back with Carrol. 

Jesse: You did longer back with Jackson. 

TfeoMAs: You a spider, wove a web for him. 

Jesse: You a spider designed the web and gave me 
the lowly work. 

Thomas: And you made a deadly finish, not in my 
design. 

Jesse: Bah— What does the spider weave for — What 
does the spider crouch for? To kill. 



— 18 — 

Thomas: Heaven great; did I want to kill Jaekaon? 

Jesse: Heaven is too great for your little witness box 
but what does a gun want? You spoke the spite of more 
than death to him yesterday and to day you shuffle and 
shiver to avoid your share of the dead means weight, you'r 
an after deed coward in terror of how great your courage 
was; can the dead man kill you V 

Thomas: Yes, when the dead man's a Jackson; 'Tis 
false that I thought death to Jackson; 1 could not plan so 
muck violence to myself; I had hoped to spend my days 
behind Jackson, and as he climbed the visionary moun- 
tain that stands amid men, for oidy the great to find; I 
would climb after him, and when the top was reached, 
where the sun is clear, I might in his tall thin shadow 
catch on my short wide figure some side beams of glory 
and die as he, in the sei-vice of my fellows; who now's to 
enlist, who now to lead me? 

Jesse: Oh some part of this nation will drop out of 
existance because this man has dropped out. 

Thomas: No. but some pai-t wont come in, the part 
that he was born to create is lost, for our bands have cut 
liim down before he could leach his work; he was. a great 
soldier and the nation with a i:reat soldier is two nations. 

Jesse: How dead men excel and living men fail. — 
This one has carried unfiiiished empires t<» his grave and 
while he and they lot togeihei', he can come in winding- 
sheet and claim the pinnacles of living glory. — Did we 
not kill him, he had continued an obscure mad man till 
age took out his teeth and closed his loud pipe forever, — 
get someone to kill >ou. and you too will be great; 'twas 
half the greatness of Caesar that Caeius killed him. 

Thomas: Jackson was a mad man, but the mad make 
nations, the wise ejijoy them. Behind the mountains for 
long years E )aminondas lived in Greece. Then he arose 
and in two battles lifted his people. 

Jesse: These are deliveries you snear tl.e profound. 

Thomas: Not while iw^ar you. 



— 14 — 

Je«sb: I'll tly your presence then. 

Thomas: No flight of genius, I wish our bloodship 
could be dissolved. 

Jesse: That's my wish; had I choice before life I 
would not come into the world on your list of Kin. 

Thomas: And had all choice you would not be allowed 
on any list; were family supplied by sample no house 
weuld put you on its order sheet. 

Jesse: You want another fight? 

Thomas: Ah no — enough to day. 

Jesse: Shut your spike or I'll give you more than 
enough. 

Thomas: Away trifle. 

Jesse: You'll make a discovery it 



Thomas: Pshaw, only in your hate was any o!ie ever 
safe. ' 

Jesse: Be ready! (Presenting gun.) 

Thomas: Always ready! (Knocks gun out of Jesse's 
hand and lifting it again presents it to Jesse.) 

(Jesse throws \t away.) 

Thomas: That's your best snot! Missouri, Missouri — 
Convict Colony for life. (Mounts horse and exit, while 
Jesse looks after him. Scene ends.) 



ACT. 4.— SCENK 1. 

The Hermitage. Jackson with left arm bandaged up. 

Jackson: All dead; women gone and Jackson not able 
to return a stroke — Little me, to slow on life; after a 
street pugil, is that. (Enter Reed, Carrol, Cottee, 

Livingston, Hays.) 

Cakrot-: All ready for Jackson to marshal 1. 



— 15 — 

Hays: Let me put your sword on General. 

Livingston: Strong general. 

Jackson: Yes, j'our power has touched me. 

Reed: We'll go for your horse. 

• (Exit all and enter Racha.) 

Racha: jLn Indian war. 

Jackson: No, — The Red Man is but the front show 
line; 'tis a British 

Racha: Yes, ah yes; the Indian is the dead line — 
you'll stretch his bones on his land and like thieves by 
whose fallout honest people never g-et their own, patch it 
up darkly. 

Jackson: The land was never his, and 

Racha: Why did you buy it from him then? 

Jackson: Give me time; we bought peace, not land. 

Racha: How hungry for peace when you bought so 
many acres of peace; why dont you buy peace now, he 
might have a few acres left, and give you a bargain in his 
weakness. 

Jackson: Nothing so dear to buy as peace — How 
bitter your tongue Racha, but keep the arguments till I 
return in peace from the war with happiness won, then. . 

Racha: Happiness won by dead men V — This house 
was never without happiness. — Trifle by trifle we col- 
lected till now we own a large property of it — you re- 
member we planted a tree and birds nested in it, and you 
said that while a tenant remained there we would stay 
here and compare records with them, but tho hurricanes 
have swept through, that little house is on the same frail 
l)ranches and ouis with firm ^et and unquestioned right is 
to be shatt red by a foul far ott breeze. 

(Enter Reed with Jackson's horse, and others.) 
Reed: Here's a mount for a king. 



— 16 — 

Jackson: (Leaning against horse.) Jackson is not a 
king. 

Raciia: As you'll not return I'll go with you. 

Jackson: Ah no — that brings to memory a great 
woman whom I lost by war. 

Racha: You never told me of her. 

Jackson: 'Twas an uneasy bit of childhood put to rest 
that I did not like to disturb. 

Hacha: As this is our last story time, tell it now. 

Reed: Tell General. 

Jackson: Its length will delay us. 

Coffek: Even let war wait for such a tale. 

Jackso.v: Our Nation like all that books tell of, had 
beginning in war — we call that War of Indipeudcnoe. . . 

JjIVINGSton: 'Twas but half indipcndance 

Carrol: The other half is on some unknown field 

HaYs: And we're going to look for it ... 

Jackson: Yes, after the battles we fought. tiie fields we 
won, the surrenders we compelled, we're in vasalaae \et 
— In that way my kin joined young liberty — one biother 
went to Stono and he stays there forever. — The other 
followed tlie fortunes of Marion till death too laid him 
away and my mother went everywhere that a sick man 
wanted a nurse or a dead man wanted a grave — these 
were tinies of terror for a boy — thtae was no fun — war 
had made infancy thoughtful — we skipped the preface 
of life and began our childhood as men - I could do little 
then but watch the forlorns of Davies or lift a sword to a 
disarmed trooper and make a counting as I did of its 
weight for a day when its use njight be possible for me — 
I grew though for ambition hurried me up and gave time 
no chance to fatten me — Hard and hungry like, life ham- 
mered out on an anvil, I started service as if a sword was 
a blood relation to me. — I tire you Racha. 



— 17 — 

RArHA: Tell on forever; such tale is joy enough for 
eternity. 

Reed: Tell of the Royalist and his boot cleaning. 

Jackson: He flung his boots to me, to clean, and I 
kicked them back and told him, that we were the soldiers 
who had not learned how to clean or wear boots yet; the 
sword cut that he made at my head, this hand parried — 
^ee the g-ash; but Robert in scorn let the blade come on 
his naked cheek and it helped him to a grave (weakly) ah 
enough. 

Racha: The woman's untold of. 

Jackson: Tarlton came and left more dead than the 
living could put below grass - Fester bred fever and the 
dead army slew the living — then 'twas that woman's 
hand never failed a petitioner for men still went to tight 
and boys went to learn how to tight and in the scarcity 
wouien had to be surgeon and sexton to the nation — 
Thru, ah then beauty could be found dead beside Ji dead 
soldier with the hfilf stayed wound or half drained lotion 
in her stiffened grip — We pinnch; no figures — sight up 
no insignia to these shades Racha . . Let me tell the end" 
ijjg — A ship freighted to the scuppers with sickness lay 
in Charlston harbour ~ no line of battle craft from Sala- 
miss to New ever sailed or sank such devotion as that 
still boat witliout a gun — women were in charge and the 
tiag was never lowered save to bury the dead, when the 
warrior was carried on delicate shoulders to his marine 
rest. In that ships crew there was one — she who wel- 
comed me into the world when my father gone from it 
could give her no security for her gladness. — To hate 
nothing: she rocked me, to fear nothing; she fed me, to 
deceive nothing: she taught me — that was my mother — 
often she went frcun ship to shore for curatives and one 
day, or one .night, or one. . I . they . . saw her. . ah saw 
lier no more. 

(Rests weakly against horse and Scene ends ) 



~ 18 — 

ACT 4.— Scene 2. 

Hospital tent m Indian country. Shiisy alone. 

Shusy: Will we have any for plasther or poultice. 
Whin Marrian an Green was at it we used to bury legs 
be the bushel but these new silk sojers dont look like that 
Tho that lonely girl may be losht in it. (Begins to read 
cards) — Purshuin to me there ihey are agin plain 
as the divils crorbeen — an she'll take no warnin. 

(Enter Listria.) 

Listria: How do you like me Shusy V 

Shusy: Fine me honey — turn round till I look at you 
— a rale sojer. 

Listkia: I'll see how much America is in Carrol — 
Who is he says Benton — Fight will tell — If a pure 
born soldier, he's pure. 

Shusy: Glory to you, sure its in a man's work, a man 
is born but yer not goin to face the InjinsV 

Listkia: I'll face anything but a whelp at an altar. 

Shusy: May the angels be wid ye. (Takes Listria's 
hand and reads palm.) The Lod brake hard fortune be- 
fore you. (Exit Listria and enter Tom Clear ) 

Tom: We had a brush with the red man. 

Shusy: Let me see — an ugly schelp but no danger. 
(Begins to wash and dress wound.) 

Tom: Put it together, I'll be ott. 

Shusy: Not till the docther comes to morrow. 

Tom: Our men might be all dead tomorrow for these 
red fellows can fight. 

Shusy: Yer tellin ii; but whishper a weeny. 

Tom: What? Quick! 

Shusy: There's a young sojer jusht gone out — a wild 
scharum — keep a kindly eye on that sojer an I'll. I'll — 
Where are you fiom? 



— 19 — 

Tom: South Carolina. 

Shusy: Cushla, What's yer name? 

Tom: Clear. 

Shusy: Clear — Carolina — ah, we laid him in the 
church an buried him next day in the clothed clothes of a 
sojer — that's whin America won America. Did you hear 
ot him? 

Tom: My father went that way. 

Shusy: Come close to the light — the same face, the 
same foot, the same eye, the same dead man alive — If 
the same blood, America is goin to win. Don't, don't 
forget me sojor. 

ToxM: No, never! (End of Scene.) 

ACT 4.— Scene 3. 
Indian Country. Cutler and Jesse. 
CuTLEit: By State order I'm doctor here. 

Jesse: AVhat am I? 

Cutler: What you dare. 

Jesse: 'Tis dark. 

Cutlku: Has the sun no light? 

Jesse: It sweats to blindness. 

Cutlei:: Did you love an Overton as I hate an Over- 
ton, you though blind would see — the passion of man is 
liate. 

Jesse: And woman? 

Cutler: She has none; she's too weak for hate and 
too strong for love. 

Jesse: I'll clear my head and think. 

Cutler: Clear your heart; the mind of man is in his 
breast. If I put your hand on the work, will you grip ? 

Jesse: Till death, yes. 

Cutleb: Not death — life. (Scene ends.) 



— 20 — 

ACT. 4.— Scene 4. 

War Camp. Jackson and Reed. 

JACKSON: I want soldiers and one Govenor sends ad- 
vise to stop the war — he's leader of forlorn hope — his 
dense lines (reading j^aper) are brilliant as a bayonet 
charge — am T not coward enough without a State reen- 
forcement of cowardice? 

Reed: Hush! — (Sounds of horse.) 

Jackson: Quick! quick! (Rusli to Camp door — enter 
Coffee. Hays and Listria she bearing in her arms a child ) 

Coffee: After a fight without quarter, for the redman 
scourned mercy, we took Taloschatches — many prisoners. 

Listkia: And here is one — (an Indian child). 

Jackson: Poor young soldier; whore's his mother? 

Listkta: Dead! 1 found him fastened to the cold 
fountain but he couldn't draw out the frozen milk. 

Jackson: Give me a spoon I have only sugar and 
water; he'll, he'll not die. (i^eeds child) we'll send liini 
home to Racha. (Enter Carrol rush). 

Cahrol: Mutiny more mutiny! (All rush out and 

Scene changes to where mutineers are drawn up.) 

MuTiNEEKs: We'r ffoing home the rations are hunger. 

Jackson: Big4a*fe-orl little allowance. 

Mutineers: Our time's up. 

Jackson: You came to fight the red man and you 
fought none yet. 

Mutineers: We're determined this time. 

Jackson: I'm determined everytime — tliis army is 
in my charge. — Back to camp, I order you. 

Mutineers: We'll take no orders from you. 
Jackson: By the eternal you will and more (gives 



— 21 — 

child to Listria and lifts rifle in arm not bandaged). The 
first lo stir will stir no more, (silence) 

Mutineers: Hear us general. 

Jackson: I'll hear you march to camp. 

Mutineers: We're hung-ry. 

Jackson:- I'm liungry. 'Tis war to be hungry. 

Mutineers: When are we to go home? 

Jackson: When you defeat the enemy. (They cheer 
Jackson and under Carrol march baclv. Scene ends ai 
Jackson takes child again.) 



ACT 5.— Scene 1. 

Jackson and Staff. Dim dawn. 

Jackson: They're coming. (Enter officer.) 

Officeh: Our position's in danger. 

Jacksox: Carrol's thert;. — No danger. 

Offickk: Twice in solid mass the red men charged 
and ... 5 

Jacksox: And twice failed — tell your general that 
Hays is coming. (Exit officer.) Listen! waiti listen! — 
Ready! l^^ire! Charge! (Some of Jackson's men waiver and 
throw his ranks into disorder.) Steady, steady, oh das- 
tards be gone. (Drives them to rear and turns to rally 
ranks. Glory! glory! color their skins redder. (Rushes at 
foe and after a desperate struggle the red men fall baclc.) 
Ha! ha! — If they return we'll have light at them next. 
(Enter otticer <if runaways.) 

Officku: My men are sorry. 

jacksox: They'll be sorry to-morrow for I'll shoot 
tliem. 

Officek: Allow tliem to face the foe again. 

Jackson: No, no, by the Eternal no! (Rushes to front 



as he hears red men coming.) Ready, Fire! (They come 
to close quarters and his men waiver, when first runa- 
ways come witli charge and Jaclcson shouts true soldiers) 
at them boys, true soldiers charge, charge! (They all 
charge in solid force and as the Indians are flying- in utter 
rout scene ends.) 

ACT. 5.— Scene 2. 

Jackson and Generals. Army in dim distance. 

Jackson: Hard fight you had Carrol, at river. 

Cauhol: Yes — The red man knows how to fight. 

Jackson: Not well as you, are you wounded. 

Carrol,: Not a scrape. 

Jackson: Show us plan Keed. 

Reed: (Showing map) An Island with only (me land- 
way strongly fortressed. 

Jackson: What's that above? 

Reed: Only boats can get there. 

Jackson: Surprise them boats up stream Coffee and 
take that place. (Enter Carroll.) 

Carrol: Strong position — and but that narrow to 
march on. First work is, bored logs to face. 

Jackson: We'll charge the logs and use the ports — 
This time no confusion — When I shout over, mount 
battlement. (They march into fading distance and as a 
volley comes from fortress, Jackson shouts, forward, stoop 
charge!) Now, now, — File past ports, reload and come. 
Fire! again, again, again; hurrah soldiers — Hurrah! — 
Up all in one — over, over! — (Sounds and smoke of 
strife in distance till Indians break in defeat and Jackson 
shouts surrender.) 

Jackson: Surrender! 

Redmen: Never! No, never! 

[_ pf Q (In these terrors Scene ends.) > 



— 28 — 

ACT. 5.— Scene 3. 

Gathering the dead and wounded in fortress. 

Shusy and hospital nurses. 

Tom and other soldiers. 

Shusy; Where to that sojerV (To soldiers carrying 
Listria off.) 

Carrier: To bury him. 

Shusy: Gra j^alma biiry that young- darlin — sthop! 

Cabkiei:: Wliatfor? 

Shusy: To see how dead he is 

Carrier: iSo, 

Shusy: Miislia pugh — you'r the Glniral — put him 
down ye grabbe! 

Carkikr: Only you'r a woman! (in threat). 

Shusy: Arab put down tiint sojer! (putting- hands on 
carrier.) 

Carrier: Keep offi 

Tom: Put him down or there'll be blood scattered. 

(Enter Cutler.) 

Cutler: "What's all this about? 

Shusy: That sojer. 

Cuti-eu: He's dead! 

Shusy: Let's be sartin. 

Cutler: This work can't wait but put him down. 

Cakriek: Not if the devil told me. 

Shusy: Put him down or the diviril do more than tell 
ye. (Puts hands firmly on.) 

(Enter Jesse.) 

Jesse: If he's dead, let's bury him. (Puts hands to 
carry.) 



— 24 — 

Cutler: Yes, Yes. 

Tom: Put him down dastards. 

Jesse: Is'iit he dead? (Hesitatingly.) 

Cutler: No, No! (Derision to Jesse.) 

Shusy: The docther says he's not. 

(Tom lays hands on Cari'ier and a struggle ensues, 
when all Jackson's officers rush in and overpower carrier, 
Cutler and Jesse — during the strife Sliusy and Tom 
carry Listria off and scene ends.) 

ACT ft.— Scene 4. 

Ill Camp. 

(Jackson trying to write but often in pain l»aving to 
stop. Enter VVeatherford tlie Indian chief.) 

Jackson: Who are you? 

Weatherford: I'm Weatherford. 

Jackson: O you'r the carnage man. 

Weatherford: Yes, you told my people to surrender 
me; they'd not do that, but as you want revenge I'm come 
for the want. 

Jackson: Not revenge, submission. 

Weatherford: A man without forces has nothing to 
submit. It was my purjwse to fight till the red men re- 
stored himself over this land or slept together undrr it. 
but my purpose is broken, death has made divisions of us 
and left a scrap here that's to come lower than the grave. 
Our men are dead and dead men can't figlit. 

Jackson: What foul, what fatal purpose y 

Weatherford: Not foul to remake a people — not 
fatal to die, to fall well. 

Jackson: Away with second hand peoples, they'r the 
rags of bygone splendors, only fit for paper; but you were 
never a people. 



— 25 — 
Weatherrford: Never? That's untrue. 

Jackson: By the Eternal, if you ... (Putting hand on 
sword ) 
Weatherford: What you dare I'll copy. 
JACKSON: You, I stay (drawing). 

Weatherford: But a man of only one hand, yet — 
(drawing.) 

Jackson: Come on (Making rush — they make some 
passes, when Coffee and Reed enter and part them) . 

Coffee: No dignity in this. 

Jackson: Damnation to dignity — Stand fair second 
and we'll fight it out — He'll be dead in a stroke. 

Weatherford: I've come here to die but your hospi- 
tal cut can't kill me. 

Jackson: Sacred, listen! 

Coffee: That's a soldier to a soldier, — don't play 
child general. 

' Jackson: When :^PsJ5^f^"g^it ^ did'nt tritle your 
cause or cross your h*y»pR asyou do and play big at my 
cost. 

Rekd: The soldiers are coming. 

(Jackson puts up sword.) 

Soldiers: Shoot the red fellow — Hang him — Turn 
him out. 

Jackson: Be gone — How dare 

(freightens off soldiers.) 

If you were ever a people where is your story? Tell us 
the towns you built — the laws you made — the songs 
you sung. 

Weatherford: You wait — Controversy but you fit 
for nothing except fight — We're what nature made — 
you're not — you live in lowness, your cities are running 
sores and their liquid is your beverag-e, your filth is a 
preserve and you feed upon it; your love is 



— 26 — 

Jackson: That's foul and false — on this land there's 
lake and river, mine and mountain, field and farest — and 
from all you g<»t only a bite with blood on it — you have 
nothing of a people but land — we're masters of it now. . 

Weathekford: You master — Land is master — 
Land lends you clay for life and that you be tit to work 
out the loan, feeds you for life — you dig, you drain, you 
set, you cut and bend lowly to your task and at the grave 
you landlord who never dies takes back the last ounce of 
clay — you step like empire but you'r held to bondage 
by the foot - When you have bent all by force and spent 
all by folly 

Jackson: Then this land can go fallow and once more 
you can graze upon it. — But truce — you talk as my 
Racha does tho you put leaden lumps on \our lash— Her's 
are silken — Truce to you of her thought — Go and take 
peace with you. 

(Chief hows off with Coffee and Reed but re" 
turns bearing- a deer on his shoulder.) 

Weatherfokd: My horse swam the cassa with me 
and the sudden dash in stream started this up the UKuin- 
taiu and just as he made the last (blearing bound. I shot 
him — He'll make a soldiers night. (Exit leaving Jackson 
again trying to write. Scene ends.) 

ACT 5.— Sf KNK 5. 

In Camp. Enter Jackson and Rasha. 

Jackson: You'r uiy own Racha — all my own — You 
were my own before 1 met you — In young time when 1 
dreamt castles and put beauty into them one woman alone 
of wit and truth and thought tilled all my enchantments - 
she told me tales, sang me songs and laughed the day in 
with me — she was the divinity of you Rasha and when I 
found you the vision came to be real. — Now we'll to the 
Hermitage and sit an evening rest after a days work on 

our cornfields and watch 

(Enter SJnisy. Listria and all Jacksons chiefs.) 



— 27 — 

Shusy: 'Tvvas a great war to bring us a wecldiii. 

Jackson: True Shusy. 

Shusy: Wont we make Dugareou shake? 

Jackson: Cjirrol you've known liow to win this child of 
honesty, know how U* keep her; 'tis a boys part to win, 
'tis a man's part to keep. The latest word for love is fair 
play ; dictionary of devotion shou'd be cut down to that 
standard — VVHien Coosa rose red with blood you brought 
fair play into war and lessened the blush of death — when 
tide ebbs pale and leaves but tiotsam of beauty on beach, 
bring- fair play to this lovely one for love and lessen the 
blush of life.- Americans we'll meet again to soldier,meet 
to defend a home on these fields for the outcast of the 
woild — Our deed of possession compels us to guard and 
garden tliis land first — We'll come, the fallen will 
come and the mountains will come together and give foot- 
ing to the freeborn. 

(Scene ends with sound and signs of glory, glory!) 



^ ^ ^ 



MOV 18 if} 



OCT 28 1901 



"^'^'^^flB 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





016 103 275 fi 



